By The Backseat View
Spring Road Trips in the South
Spring in the South means one thing: tulip season is in full bloom. From the colorful fields at Oakes Farms to the vibrant rows at Lucky Ladd Farms and the breathtaking displays at Burnside Farms, tulip festivals across the region transform ordinary weekends into unforgettable spring getaways. Whether you’re planning a girls’ trip, family outing, or romantic day trip, these Southern tulip festivals offer millions of blooms, pick-your-own experiences, photo ops, and seasonal treats. This Tulip Festival Guide will help you plan the perfect spring adventure.
Tulip Festival Guide
When is Tulip Season in the South?
Most tulip festivals are in March and usually open Thursday through Sunday. Mid-March, around the 15th to the 30th, are the best blooming days, but it depends on the weather. The festivals can run into the first week of April, depending on the flowers.
Best Tulip Festivals in the South
Let’s rank the tulip festivals in order of the largest displays of blooming tulips. I love tulips so let’s take a colorful road trip across the South. Our first planning step is to buy our tickets a couple of weeks before opening date with tickets selling out.
Burnside Farms
- The Festival of Spring at Burnside Farms in Nokesville, Virginia
The Tulip count is over two million, and daffodils are blooming. The blooming period usually runs from late March to mid-April. All tickets are sold online and include 5 flowers. Tickets sell out weeks before the opening date. The festival has wagon rides, photo opportunities, food trucks, and a historic 100-year-old dairy barn.
Tennessee Tulip Festival
2. Oakes Farm Tulip Festival – Corryton, TN (above Knoxville)
This festival is a little later, going from March 22 to April 6th.
The Tulip Count is over 1 million in 32 varieties across three acres. The festival has time-slot tickets to help manage crowds. The farm has family attractions like slides, pedal karts, a petting zoo, and food vendors. Admission is $5, and tulips are $2.50 each.
While in Corryton, hike to the top of House Mountain State Park for panoramic views.
Lucky Ladd Farms
3. Tennessee Tulip Festival at Lucky Ladd Farms in Eagleville (near Nashville & Franklin)
The tulip count is over a million, and the festival runs from March 14th to April 12th. U-pick tulips, food trucks, and over 50 family activities make it one of the largest and top-rated tulip festivals in the Southeast. Tickets should be bought in advance.
I have an entire post on what to do in Nashville while you are visiting for the flower festivals. 30 Top Things to Do in Nashville has it all, from Broadway’s bars to trendy shopping and historic mansions to tour. Add in a trip to the Nashville zoo, and it’s the perfect vacation.
Alabama Tulip Festivals
4. Hubert Family Farms in New Market, Alabama (near Huntsville)
The tulip count is listed as over 300,000, and the festival starts mid-March. Weekend activities include Hot Air Balloon Rides, Tulip Trolley, live entertainment, food trucks, and an animal barn.
5. 4D Farm – Cullman, Alabama
Tulip count is around 250,000 tulips. The farm has photo ops with a windmill and a wooden shoe, and family attractions. There’s also a Bunny Patch and an egg hunt. Admission is around $17.
While you are in the area, Cullman also has the Ava Maria Grotto with over 125 miniature world religious structures for a unique stop.
Botanical Gardens
6. Atlanta Botanical Gardens– “Tulips at Twilight.”
They have over 140,000 tulips blooming with the spring display. This year’s theme is Alice in Wonderland. It kicks off around mid-March. Admission starts at $25. There’s so much to do around Atlanta. Local’s Guide to Atlanta’s 35 attractions for an entertainment-filled week.
American Village
7. American Village Festival of Tulips– Montevallo, AL
The Tulip count is around 120,000 tulips at American Village. This event runs Feb 25-Mar 16. You can stroll rows of colorful blooms, pick tulips for $2 each, and enjoy food trucks on the weekends. General Admission is $15 for the Village and another $5 for the Tulip Festival. The American Village brings to life our nation’s stories of liberty and sacrifice.
Montevallo Day Trip Guide
While in town, don’t miss Orr Park with dozens of unique carvings in cedar trees by local artists. Next up, it is time to grab some lunch on Main Street. Then, the University of Montevallo is one of the most historic and beautiful campuses for a scenic walk. Next, you can also hike the mile to Falling Rock Falls or walk through Ebenezer Swamp Ecological Preserve. Lastly, end your day with a ride on the Calera railroad and be entertained by the western shows. The Saturday train tickets easily sell out a couple of weeks in advance. Come for the tulips and enjoy the day in this charming town.
Georgia Tulip Festivals
Georgia hosts some of the best Flower Festivals in the world. The Top 8 Flower Festivals in the Southeast gives award-winning flower filled weekend trips.
8. Fields of Grace Tulip Fest– Shiloh, GA (Southwest GA & a 4-hour drive from Atlanta)
They have over 90,000 tulips in bloom. Admission: Adults ~ $15
The festival has U-pick tulips, food trucks, vendors, and a kids’ zone.
Shiloh, GA, is near Pine Mountain, home to Callaway Gardens and its spring flower festival. I have everything you need to know in this Pine Mountain & Warm Springs Travel Guide, which delivers Callaway Gardens, a safari, and the Little White House filled with history.
Gibbs Gardens
9. Gibbs Gardens Spring Colorfest– Ball Ground, GA (1.5 hours north of Atlanta)
This is not strictly a tulip festival with over 30,000 tulips in bloom. Tulips bloom alongside daffodils and other spring flowers. Opening day is February 27. Admission starts at $25. Gibbs Gardens was rated the “Best Flower Festival in the USA” by USA Today.
Gibbs Garden is near Blue Ridge, GA, for a weekend getaway. Open the Blue Ridge Mountains Travel Guide for an upscale town with low crowds, and delicious meals. The quiet hikes through the spectacular mountains are perfectly balanced with small-town charm. Spend the day strolling the upscale stores for handmade clothing, original paintings, and unique wood furniture. When it’s time for food, Blue Ridge delivers Southern cooking, fine dining, and burger bars.
10. Upper Cumberland Tulip Festival – Cookeville, TN
Located at Little Creek Farms with vendors and a Bunny Trail Egg Hunt for kids. Opens February 28th with admission at $10 per person. Cookeville is near Nashville and Chattanooga for other weekend activities. No tulip count given.
For more weekend activities read the Top Attractions in Chattanooga explores the city with the world’s steepest incline passenger rail line, the world’s longest pedestrian bridge, and one of the best aquariums in the country.
Bonus: Bellingrath Gardens in Theodore, AL, and Garvan Woodland Gardens in Hot Springs, Arkansas, also have extensive tulip displays.
Bucket List USA Tulip Festivals
One day, I’m traveling to the BEST Tulip Festivals in the country and this is my plan.
- Washington State’s Skagit Valley has millions of blooms.
- Holland Ridge Farms in New Jersey has millions of blooms with a Dutch theme.
- Tulip Time Festival in Holland, Michigan, with over five million blooms.
- Wooden Shoe Tulip Fest in Woodburn, Oregon, has 40 acres of tulips.
Tulip Picking Tips
- Tulips need to be placed in water within an hour of being pulled from the ground, so bring a tall vase with water.
- Bring a basket to place flowers in.
- Pick tightly closed flower bunches with green-tipped buds showing minimal developing color to ensure they last longer in your vase.
- Grab the stem at the base and pull directly up instead of cutting for a longer stem.
- Trim stems at a 45-degree angle and keep in cool, dark places to prolong life.
Until Next Spring,
Tulip season in the Southeast may be short, but it’s nothing short of spectacular. With fields bursting in color from March to early April, these festivals are the perfect excuse for a spring road trip, a fresh bouquet, and a camera roll full of vibrant memories. Whether you’re wandering through endless blooms in Georgia, soaking up the sunshine in Tennessee, or discovering hidden floral gems in Alabama, there’s a tulip festival waiting to brighten your season.
Thanks for reading my Best Tulip Festivals in the South Travel Guide. Here’s a few more spring trip ideas. My favorite Spring Break Trips are affordable, short, and uncrowded. Mother’s Day trips are the best gift for more time with your family.
Top 8 Flower Festivals
Georgia hosts some of the best Flower Festivals in the world. The Top 8 Flower Festivals in the Southeast gives award-winning flower filled weekend trips.
The Anniston & Oxford Travel Guide complete with 15 Day Trips from my home in the land of the pines and pastures. These day trips are mainly for Alabama and perfect a spring break fun day.
The Ultimate Guide to Alabama Beaches explores Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Perdido Key, and Dauphin Island. Spring Break at the Beach is always a good idea.
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